Cuttings-conveyer mechanism



. Feb. 5, 1 946. c. F. 'osGooD CUTTINGS*CONVEYER MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 16, 1939 v vezzior:

Feb. 5, 1946. c. F. osGooD 2,394,005

CUTTINGSFCONVEYER MECHANISM original Filed Jan'. is, 1939 4 sheets-sheet 2 y /viv die?.

4 sheets-sheet` s NIW-I III Ill lill J9 I @ggf f c. F. osGooD CUTTINGS-CONVEYER MECHNISM Original Filed Jan'. 16, 1939- ,29' 1 Munn "l lnnll" W W w W M0 Feb; 5,1946.

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Feb. 5, 1946.

C. F. v(JS-GOOD T-TINGs-convEYER MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 16, 1939 www f W 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' dana; if' dige.

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Patented Feb. 5, 1946 2,394,005 CUTTINGS -coNvEYEe .MECHANISM Charles vF. Osgood, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Continuation ,of application Serial No. 251,094,

January 16, 1939.

11 Claims- This invention relates to cuttings-conveyer mechanism, and more particularly to improve- AVments in cuttings-conveyer mechanism adapted to use with a lcoal cutting machine of the endless cutter chain type whereby the cuttings brought back from the kerf-by the cutter chain are effectually removed from-adjacency to the machine.

In the cutting of coa-l by 4ftheuse of a coal Vcutting machine ofthe endless cutter chain type, the relatively ne cuttings created by the cutterchan 4during the kerf cutting operation are piled up around the machine at the vrear end of the `cutter It has been found that dueto the continual 4churning ofthe cuttings'by the rapidly circulatingA `cutter chain, the power consumed in the cutting operation was considerably increased and further -appreciably increased the wear ofthe cutter lbits andithe parts-winch compose the cutter chainv and cutter bar, resulting in a substantial increase -in maintenance-costei the various cutting members,

.close tothe coal face.

An objectv of this invention isA to'providean improved-` cuttingsi-conveyer mechanism adapted for attachment to a` conventional coal cutting -machine rwhereby the cuttings createdby thecutter chain during the kerf cutting operation are mechanically conveyed away from the machine,

thereby eliminating, tol a-substantial extent, the

laborioustask of shoveling -away the vcuttings'lcy hand. A further-object is to provide animproved cuttings-conveyer mechanism adapted-for attachment to aV coalfcutting machiney wherebylthecuttings are mechanically remqved from adjacency to the machine Vand conveyed to a convenient point o f disposal. Still another Objectis to'provde anyimproved cuttingseconveyer mechanism embodying conveyingl mechanism Varranged at 'the trailingside of the cutter bar'andhaving its cuttings receiving portion vdisposed. in adj acency rvto :the return-run of the cutter chain whereby the cuttings are .eifectually removed, from the rear end of the. machine. yA still further: object is to provide an Y improved cu-ttin, gshatidling attach This application July @L A1941, SerialNo. 403,420

ment for -a conventional coal cutting machine whereby the cuttings created by the cutter chain duri-ngVr the Akerf cutting operation are mechanically removed from adjacency to the machine, thereby substantially eliminating-thevery arduous task?, with its-attendant dangers, of manually shovelfingaway the cuttings. Y et another object isf to provide an 4improved cuttings-handling -inechanism adapted for attachment to the rear en-'d of aiongwallcoal cutting machine at `the trailing si-de ofthe cutter bar for `removing the cuttings from adjacency to `the cutter chain.- A stil-l `further object is to' provide an improved cuttingslhandling mechanism vadapted for attachment to a conventional coal-cutting' machine and driven through-elements of theV cutter chain drivingmeans oithemachine. StillV another object is to provide an improved cuttings-conveyer mechanismy arrangedat the -re'ar end of -a coal cutting machineatthe trailing -side of the cutter bar vfor moving the cuttings away from the `return run ofthe cutter chain-and for elevating the cutf ltinge tof a convenient' point of discharge.. Astill furtherrobject istofprovide animprovedicuttingscenveyer mechanism wherein a rotary conveyor rdev-ice` or gatherer arranged ony an upright yaxis and= having its receiving -portionmovin'gf ina Acir- .cularpath inl adjacency tothe return run of the .cutterf chai-n, isV en'iployed` for clearing away the .cuttings from -adjacency to the cutter ychain and -for elevating the cuttings to Ia suitable point of discharge. A1 still-.further object isto Yprovide an improvedcuttings-handling mechanism which is compactlfin design andi simple `instructure,u and whichmay-be'readily attached to aconventional In the'accgmpanyinggdrawingsthere are show-nh 'for hpurposes of illustration yseveral embodiments 'Whichithe inve'rtonmayassume vin practice'.

fIn Athese drawings:

` Eie- 1 is a plan view of .a coal .cutting machine Y with'y which an illustrative embodiment o f the improved' cuttingsconveyer ,mechanism `is `assoldated; e

Fig. 211s a kside elevational view ofv the coal cutting machineand.the associated cuttings-conveyermechansm .Shown 1in Fie 1- zFia erllufgefV vertical sectional `View takervsubstantiaHv .01m11.111s3f-13l of Fig. v 1.

,November 11, 1941. prises a low compact machine frame 2 of generally Ato formv a rigid unitary machine frame.

Y stantially on line 1.-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken in the plane of Fig. 6, showing a portion of the driving means for the conveyer mechanism.

Fig; 9 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and '7, illustrating still another illustrative embodiment of l the invention.

,'Fig. 10 is a View similar to Figs. 3 and 6, illustrating yet another embodiment'of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken sub stantially on lines I I-I I of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12fis a detail cross sectional view taken Vonline I2-,l2 ouf'Fig. V10.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary `plan view of the cuttings-conveyor mechanism shown inFigs. 10,

y11 and 12, showing af portion of the conveyer driving means.

' This invention, in its several embodiments, is shown associated with a coal cutting machine of the flexibly fed, longwall type having a pivoted cutter-chain-carrying cutter bar disposable in a right angle position with respect to the machine y frame during the kerf cutting operation, and in each embodiment of the invention the improved cuttings-conveying mechanism is operative to re- `move the cuttings from adjacency to the cutter ,chain and convey the cuttings to a convenient point of disposal. While the invention is shown .embodied in a longwall coal cutting machine, it will be evident that the same may be associated with the kerf cutting mechanism of coal cutting machines of various other typesV without depart- Y ing from the spirit of the invention.

The coal mining machine disclosed herein is generally indicated at-I and for illustrative purposes maybe similar in character to that dis- .closed in a copending application of one Dwight YR. Richards, Serial No. 172,994, filed Nov. 5, 193'?,l

now matured into Patent No. 2,262,049, granted The mining machine comrectangularshape, having a plane bottom surface '3 adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over'the mine door. :prises a central motor vframe section 4, a frontY rl."he machine frame comfeedv frame section and a rear cutter frame section 6,'the frame sections being secured together Carried by the front feed frame section 5 is a horizontal feed drum 'I with which a feed cable 8 cooperates in the feeding of the machine. Pivotally mounted on the cutter frame section 6 at the rear end of the machine framefor horizontal swinging movement on a vertical axis, .as at` 9,

is an elongated horizontal plane ycutter bar ID having guided for circulation about its margin an endless cutter-bit-carrying .cutter chain II.

'As fully vdescribed iny thel copending application above referred to, the feedcable is attachable to the `cutter bar to effect swinging of the cutter *bar about its pivot, and the cutter bar maybe rlocked in a right angle position at the side of the f lmachine frame, as shown in Fig. 1, or in a position extending lengthwise of the machine frame. by means of a conventional locking device. As shown in Fig. 3,- secured to the'rear endof the motor power shaft I2 is aY bevel gear I3 meshing with a` bevel gear I4, the latter in turn driving plate providing the bottom surface vof the cutter machine.

a spurgear I5.Y The spurgear I5 meshes with a spur gearV I6 connectible by a conventional Vsliding clutch I1 to a vertical shaft I8. Suitably secured to the lower end of the shaft I8 is a cutter chain drive sprocket I9 which engages and drives the endless cutter chainV I I. The cutterbar I0 ismounted on a hanger frame 20 journaled in bearing sleeves supported by a cylindrical bearing support 2| formed on thev cutter frame section 6, and the cutter bar lock is indicatedat Y22 and is engageablewith suitable appropriately located locking recesses 23 formed in the hanger frame '20.. Extending transversely lacross the lower portion of the cutter frame section 6 is a cuttings-receiving chamber 24 within which the rearward portion of the cutter bar is arranged. 1

The bottom of the chamber :is closed by a bottom frame section 6. From the foregoing, it is evident that when the sliding clutch I'I is connectedfthe cutter chain may be rapidly circulated about the margin of the cutter barthrough the bevel gear- Ving I3, I4, spur gearing I5,Y I6 and the vertical shaft I3. As fully described in the copending application mentioned above, during the cutting operation the cutter. bar may be swung by the feed `cable 8 from a position extending longitudinally of thev machine frame *to the right angle position shown in Fig. 1 and lockedin such right angle position by the lock 22, it being understood .that during the swinging movement of the `cutter bar the cuttings-conveying mechanism, generally designated 25, is detached from the coal lcutting When the swingingmovement of the cutter bar is completed and the cutter bar is sumped beneath the coal, in the manner Well known to those skilled in the art, the feed cablev manner shown in Figs, 1 and 2, and-as the feed cable is wound in by the feedvdrum the coal cutting machine is fed bodily in a forward direction along the coal face in parallelism with the latter to cut a horizontal kerf in the coal, and during l chanically conveyed away from the machine to a convenient point of disposal, as will later be explained. AsV the mode of operation of the coal cutting machine disclosed herein has been fully described in the above mentioned copending Richards application and is well known' to those skilled in the art, further description thereof is herein unnecessary. 1 Y Y In the illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the improved cuttings-conveying mechanism 26 comprises a .casing 21 attachabletotherear end of the coal cutting machine, within the lateral limits of theV 'forms of releasable attaching means may be provided whereby the cuttings-handling mechanism tings-conveyer mechanism Vfrom the mining 11.12.-, v

chinewmay be evenmore easily effected by moving the gears outof mesh;` A i,

Operating in conjunctionV withthe cuttingsconveyer mechanism is an impeller' 1, I herein arranged inthe cuttings-receiving chamber 2,4 di, y rectlybeneath the cutterchain drive sprocket L9 and, in this instance, having its hub secured to and driven by the cutter chain drive sprocket.V

cutterchain is rapidly circulated about the marginof the cutter bar, the impeller is'simultan'e` ously rapidly rotated and,'as a result, the Ycuttings `brought back Vfrom thekerf by thecutter chain are thrown laterally from.beneaththemcutf-` terchain, thereby facilitating removal ofthe cut-g tings from the cuttings-receiving chamberi 24 by, the gathering and elevating conveyer 31.v f, To 'direct the cuttings toward the conveyer: chamber 33, the outer side of the cuttings-receivingchamber24 of the cutter frame section 6 of: the mining machine, i. e. the side thereof remote from the coal face, is closed'by a vertical cover plate 12 of sheet metal, and this plate is hinged at oneV end at 13 and has a releasable lockingr pin 1l!A at its other end whereby the coverplate may be swung laterally to obtain accessto the rear` ward portion of the cutter chain, thereby to fa` cilitate changing of the cutter bits. Y Y

AAs the cutter chain Il' rapidly circulates about the margin of the cutter barV I during the kerf cutting operation, the relatively fine cuttings created by the cutter bits are brought back from `the kerf by the cutter chain into the cuttings-receiving chamber 24 and the cuttings move in the pathV of the arrows shown in Fig. 4. Asthe cuttings are moved'through the chambery 24 Vby the cutter chain they areVto some extent, thrown by centrifugal action, aided by the impeller 1I, into the chamber 33 of the cuttingsconveyer 'simply mechanism while at the same time the receiving or gathering portion 38 of the gathering and ele; vating conveyer 31 removes the cuttings vfrom adjacency tothe return run of the cutter chainV and moves them rearwardly within the chamber Y 33, and thereafter moves the cuttings from the chamber 33 upwardly through the vertical chamber 34 into the discharge chamber 35 in the swivelled frame 36, and the cuttings are discharged from the chamber 35 through the lateral discharge opening 45 onto the conveyerv belt Vl1 whereby the cuttings'are conveyed away from the machine to a suitable point of disposal. When the conveyer mechanism 46 is in a'positionextending longitudinally of the machine frame, the cuttings are discharged in the path of the machine atthe trailing side of the machine, while when the conveyer is in a laterally located position, as shown in Fig. 1, the cuttings are conveyed laterally rof the machine past the line of the roof props at the side o-f the machine remote from the coal face, and if desired, theY belt conveyer may discharge onto a face conveyer laid on the mine-floor at the cuter side of the roof props, in' a 'manner well known tothose skilled in the art. Y f 1 In Figs. 6, 7, and' another illustrative'embodiinsertible in registering apertures in lugs formed respectively on the lcasing 15 and Y the cutter frame section V6,7mV a .gmannerirsimilar to Vthat above described- The casing 15 hasa detachable bottom plate 11 having its` bottom` surface 18 bore 19 in which is journaled arotaryhollow cylindricor tubular member 8i]4 in whichV is ar Y ranged a-vertical spiral elevating conveyer 8|.

'In a manner similar to the form ofthe invention above descrbed,.keyed to theV upper 'end ofthe drive shaft lI9; of the ycutter chain drive Vsprocket is a chain-sprocket 82 connectedbyv Van endlessl drive chain 83, overlying the cutterrframe sec,-

tion, to aA chain sprocket -84 in turn/'keyedto a,

vertical'drive shaft 85 of -thespiral conveyer 8l. Formed integral with this rotarytubular member 88, near the lower end thereof, are helical vanes cencyto the return run of thel cutter chainrAand.

rearwardly from the cuttings-receiving 4'chamber 24. The bottoms 8810i these helical portions are upwardly spirally inclined from their receiving or gathering portions and discharge inwardly withinropenings'SS formed in the Walls of the member 8D, sothat as the cuttings arereceived'by these helical vanes they` are 'movedV upwardlyA along the inclined bottoms 88 and through the openings 89 `into avertical chamber 9G in which the spiral conveyer 8| is arranged soV that they Vspiralconve'yer receives the cuttings discharged Y through the openings 89y and moves the cuttings yupwardly to discharge into a horizontal chamber 9|y formed inthe upper portion of the casing. 15. The cuttings are `discharged lfrom they chamber 97| through a lateral dischargev opening 92 communicating Vwith a dischargeV chute lS33 arranged at the trailing side of themachine so vthat the cuttings are discharged in the pathof thermachine. The rotary member 8G Vis driven from the conveyer drive shaft 85 through a gear Qrkeyed to the lower end of the shaft 85 and meshing with planet gears 95 in turn meshing witha large stationary internalgear 85 secured to the casing internal gear 95 are formed. The receiving tor` bottom plate 11. The planet'gears arefjournaled on bearing sleeves supported by stub shafts 91 secured-to a horizontal partition 88 formed integral with the rotary member 80. .The` rotary member 80 Vis journaled at its lower end within a bearing sleeve 99 surrounding andY supported by an annulus |00 on whichthe teeth of the gathering portions 81 of the rotary gatherer move within a chamber 10i formed in the lower portion Y of the casing-15and communicating at its inner Y ment of the invention isdisclosed. In this` construction, a casing 15 isattachable tothe rear end of the machine frame by releasablerpins 16V side at I02with the cuttings-receiving chamber 24. e The vertical screw conveyer A8l is driven through the chain and sprocket connection 82,

83, 85 in the same direction as the cutter chain,

and the rotary member of the rotary gatherer is driven y,through the, planetary gearing from the shaft at a reduced'speedbutalso in the samedirectin as lthe ycuttery chain so that'the receiving or Ygathering portions 81 ofthe rotary gatherer move in a directionopposite to the Vdif rection of movement'. ofthe return run ofthe cutter chain. As the Vcutter chain rapidlyy circulates about the margin of the cutter bar during the kerf cutting operation, the cuttings created by the cutter chain are brought back from the kerf by the cutter chain into the cuttings-receiving chamber'24 and as thecuttings are moved through the chamber they are, to some extent,

arranged substantially flush with the bottom of` the'machine frame. The casing 15 hasy avertical thrown rearwardly by centrifugal action into the chamber :I of the rotary gatherer, and. as the receiving or gathering portions 81 onthe rotary gatherer move through the chamber 24 in adjacency to the return run of the lcutter chain, they move the cuttings rearwardly from the chamber 24 and discharge the cuttings upwardly and inwardly through the openings 89' onto the. screw conveyer 8|. The screw vconveyer moves the cuttings upwardly through the chamber 99 in the rotary. member 80 and discharges the cuttings at its upper end within the chamber 9|, the cuttingsy being discharged from the chamber 9| through the lateral discharge opening 92 into the discharge chute 93. If desired.. an endless belt conveyer mechanism may be associated with the discharge chute 93 forreceiving the cuttings as they are discharged therefrom. and to convey the cuttings laterally of the machine past the ."hne of roof props remote from the coal face. As in the form of thek invention above described, the rotary impeller 1| movesv the cuttings outwardly from beneath the cutter chain toward the rotary gatherer, thereby to facilitate. the gathering operation.

In Fig. 9 another illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed. In this: illustrative construction, theI vertical conveyer is driven through a chain and sprocket` connection from the cutter chain drive shaft |'8,`in a manner rsimilar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and therefore this driving connection is` not disclosed herein. As shown, a conveyer casing '|015 is attached to the rear end of the machine frame of the mining machine, and formed in this. casing is a transverse chamber |96 communicating at its inner side through wide openings |01 and |08 with the cuttings-receiving chamber 24. Arranged in this chamber |06 are spiral conveyers |08' and H0, herein having spiral vanes` of opposite inclination. These spiral conveyers are fixed to a transversely extending horizontal shaft herein suitably journaled within the conveyer casing. Opening rearwardly from the chamber ||06 at a point midway between the conveyers is a discharge opening H2. If desired, thisdischarge opening may discharge directly at the rear side of the casing, but, in thisl instance, this discharge opening communicates with a vertical chamber |13 in which a vertical spiral elevating conveyer |I4 is arranged. This spiral' conveyer H4 is keyed to a vertical drive shaft ||5 suitably journaled within the conveyer casing, and keyed to and driven by this shaft is a bevel gear HB meshing with a bevel gear ||1 keyed to a horizontal drive shaft H8. The shaft |.|8 is suitably journaled within the conveyer casing and has keyed thereto and drives a chain sprocket |`|9 connected by an endless drive chain |20 to a chain sprocket |-2| keyed to the horizontal drive shaft As the oppositely acting spiral conveyers |09, |0 are driven, the cuttings are removed from adjacency to ther return run of the cutter chain through the openings |01, |08 into the transverse chamber |06, and the. opposi'tely acting spiral' vanes of the conveyers move the cuttings inwardly in opposite directions and discharge the cuttings throughthe centrally located discharge opening ||2 into the chamber I3 or the spiral elevating conveyer H4. The spiral conveyer ||4 receives the cuttings and elevates. the same in the manner of the spiral conveyer 8| shown in Fig. 6 and similarly discharges thev cuttings through a discharge. chute |22'. As in the embodiments of' the invention above,v described, the cuttings impeller 1| throws the cuttings outwardly from the path of the cutter chain toward the spiral conveyers. wise this embodiment of the invention is the same as those above described..

In Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, still another illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed. The cuttings-conveyor mechanism, in this instance, hasa casing |25 detachably secured to the rear end of the machine frame and having a bottom chamber |26 communicating at its inner side with the cuttings-receiving chamber 24. Arranged. in this chamber |26 for rotation Aabout parallel axes inclined slightly with respect to the vertical is a pair of cuttings impeller cr rotary gatherer devices |21 and |28-, herein each having upright vanes |29 movable within the cuttings-receiving chamber 24 into adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain for moving the cuttings from th-e rear end of the cuttings-receiving chamber. These impeller or gatherer devices rotate in relatively opposite directions and discharge the cuttings through a centrally located discharge vopening |30 arranged in an elevated position above the mine oor at the trailing sidecf the mining machine. The means for driving these rotary impeller devices comprises a chain sprocket |3| .keyed to the upper end of the cutter chain drive shaft |B and connected by an endless drivev chain' |32: to drive sprockets |33 and |34, herein respectivelykeyed to the: upper vends of. the vertical drive shafts |35 and |36. -The endless drive chain passes around an idler sprocket |31 and so engages the chain sprockets |33 andi` |34 that the drive shafts |35 and |36 `are driven at the` same `speed but in relatively opposite directions. As shown in Fig. l0, the vertical shafts |35 and |36 are connected through universal joints or other flexible coupling means |38v to the drive shafts |39 and |40 for the impeller devices |21 and |28 respectively. As the cutter chain carries theY cuttings back from the kerf during the kerf cutting operation, the cuttings are discharged to someextent by the cutterchain into the chamber `|26 while at the same time the rotary impeller or gatherer devices |21 and |28 clear the remaining cuttings from adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain and move the cuttings from the chamber 24 upwardly and in a rearward direction to dis'- charge through the elevated discharge opening |30 at the trailing side of the mining machine. As in the forms of the invention above described, the cuttings impeller 1| throws the cuttings outwardly from the path of the cutter chain toward the rotaryv impeller or gatherer devices, and also an endless belt conveyer may be associated with the rotary impeller or gatherer devices so that the cuttings discharged thereby are received by the belt conveyer and in turn conveyed by the latter to a convenient point of disposal remote from the machine, preferably in a lateral directiony to the side of the prop line remote from the coal face.

As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improved cuttings-conveyor mechanism is provided adapted for attachment to a conventional coal cutting machine for eifectually removing the cuttings from adjacency to the cutter chain. It will further be evident'that by removing the cuttings from adjacency to the cutter chain, free-cutting. without constant churning of the cuttings is attained, thereby appreciably increasing cutter bit life and decreasing the wear and tear onall the parts which compose the Other? cutter chain and'cutter bar, resulting in the reduction of maintenance cost oi the various cutter parts and lessening the time occupied in the changing of the cutter bits, and reducing the cost of sharpening of the bits and bit replace# ment. It will 4further be evident that by the `provision of the cuttings-.conveyer mechanism whereby thecuttings created by the cutter chain during the kerf cutting operation are mechanically conveyed away from the mining machine, the laborious task, with its attendant dangers, of shoveling away the cuttings by hand is, to a substantial extent, eliminated. It will also be noted shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be further modied and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope` of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure b Letters Patent is:

' 1. A cuttings-conveyer mechanism adapted for association with a coal cutting machineV of the kind having a cutter bar carrying an endless circulating cutter chain, comprising, in combination, conveying means adapted to move the cuttings from the neighborhood of the cutter chain and to elevate the cuttings above the level of the cutter chain to a suitable point of disposal, said conveying means having a cuttings-moving portion so constructed and arranged as to be adaptedV to Amove horizontally in close adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain at the trailing side of the cutter bar, and casing means at least partially enclosing said conveying means for 2. A cuttings-conveyer mechanism adapted for association with a coal cutting machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying' an endless circulating cutter chain, comprising, in combination, conveying means adapted to move the cuttings from the neighborhood of the cutter chain and to elevate the cuttings above the level of the cutter chain to a suitable point of disposal, said conveying means comprising a rotary elevator Yarranged on a substantially vertical axis and said conveying means having a cuttings-moving portion so constructed and arranged as to `be adapted to move horizontally in close adjacency to the return 'run of the cutter chain at the trailingside of the cutter bar, and casing means at least/partially enclosing said conveying means for confining the cuttings on said rotaryelevator during elevation of the cuttings, said. casingY arranged to extend into adjacency to the cutter chain and to operate to move the cuttings horizontally away from the cutter chain through said intake opening into the casing means, said rotary 'elevator receiving the cuttings from saidV cuttings-moving portion and moving thel cuttings `upwardly through the casing means towards said 'point of disposal.

3. A cuttings-conveyer mechanism adapted for association with a coal cutting machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying an'endless circulating cutter chain, comprising,v in combina-y tion, conveying means adapted to movethe cuttings from the neighborhood of the cutter chain Yand to elevate the cuttings above the level of the cutter chain to a suitable point of disposal, said Vconveying means having a cuttings-elevating portion and'a cuttings-gathering portion, said cuttings-gathering portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to move horizontally in close adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain at the trailing side of the cutter bar,Y and casing means at least partiallyV enclosing said conveying means for confining the cuttings onV moving the cuttings upwardly through the casing Y l means towards said top discharge opening.

4. A cuttings-conveyer mechanism adapted for Y association withaA coal cutting machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying van endless -circulating'cuger chain, comprising, in combination, conveying means adapted'to move the cuttings from the neighborhood of the ,cutter4 chain and to elevate the cuttings above the level of the cutter chain to a suitable point of disposal,

Ysaid conveying means comprising a rotary gatherer and elevator arranged on a substantially vertical axis, said rotary gatherer and elevator` having a cuttings-elevating portion and a cut.- tings-gatheringr portion, said gathering portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to move horizontally in close adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain at the trailing 4side of the cutter bar,Y and casingmeans at least partially enclosing said conveying means for conning the cuttings on said elevating portion "thereof during elevation of thecuttings, said casing means adapted for attachment to a coal cutting machine and having a bottom intake opening and a top discharge opening, said cuttings-gathering portion being arranged to extend through said intake opening into adjacency to the cutter chain and to operate tomove the cuttings horizontally away from the 'cutter chain through said intake opening into the casing means, and said cuttings-elevating portion Yupon rotation of said gatherer and elevator receiving the Vcuttings from said gathering portion and vmoving the cuttings upwardly through the casing means towards said top discharge opening. 1

5. A cuttings-conveyer mechanism adapted for I association with a coal cutting machine of the means adapted for attachment to a coal cutting machine and having a bottom Aintake'opening through which said cuttings-moving portion is `75 kind having a cutter bar carrying an endless circulating cutter chain,'comprising, in combination, conveying means adapted to move the cuttings fromv the'neighborhood of the cutter chain and' to elevate the cuttings' above' the levelv of the cutter chain to a suitable point of disposal, said conveying means comprising a rotary gatherer arranged on a substantially vertical axis and having a cuttings-gathering portion so constructed andv arranged' asv to be adapted toVr move horizontallyV in close adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain at the trailing side of the cutter bar, said 'conveying means also including a cooperating elevating` conveyer coaxial with said rotary gatherer, and casing means at least partially enclosing said conveying means for conning the cuttings on said elevating conveyer during elevation' of they cuttings, said casing 'means adapted for attachment to a coal cutting machine and having a bottom intake opening and a top discharge opening, said cuttings-gathering portion arranged to extend through said intake opening into adjacency to the cutter chain and to operate to move the cuttings horizontally -away from the cutter chain through said intake opening into the casing means, said elevatingl conveyer receiving the cuttings from said rotary y gatherer and moving the cuttings upwardly through the casing means towards said topvv discharge opening.

6. A cuttings-conveyer mechanism adapted for association with a coal cutting machine of the kind having 'a cutter bar carrying an endless circulating cutter chain, comprising, in combination, conveying means adapted to move the cuttings from the neighborhood of the cutter chain and to elevate the cuttings above the level of the cutter chain to a suitable point of disposal, said conveying means comprising a rotary gatherer arranged on a substantially vertical axis and having a cuttings-gathering portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to move horizontally in close adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain at the trailing side of the cutter bar, said conveying means also including a cooperating elevating conveyer coaxial with .and rotatable relative to said rotary gatherer,

and casing means surrounding the conveying means, said casing means adapted for attachment to a coal cutting machine and having a bottom intake opening and a top discharge opening, said cuttings-gathering portion arranged to extend through said intake opening into adjacency to the cutter chain and to operate to move the cuttings horizontally away from the cutter chain through said intake opening into the casing means, said elevating conveyer receiving the cuttings from said rotary 'gatherer and moving the cuttings upwardly through the casing means towards said top discharging opening.

'7. A cuttings-conveyer mechanism adapted for association with a coal cutting machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying an endless circulating cutter chain, comprising, in combination, conveying means adapted to move the cuttings from the neighborhood of the cutter chain and to convey the cuttings away from the cutter chain to a suitable point of disposal, said conveying means comprising a rotary gatherer arr-anged on a substantially vertical axis and having a scooplike cuttings-receiving and gathering portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to move in horizontal planes in close adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain, and casing means at least partially enclosing said conveying means for confining the cuttings on said conveying means during operation thereof, said casing means adapted for attachment to 1a coal cutting machine and having a bottom intake opening, saidV cuttings-receiving and gathering portion arranged toA extend through said `intake opening into` adjacency to the cutter chain and tooperate to move the cuttings horizontally away from the cutter chain through said intake opening into the casing means.

' tical axis and having a scooplike cuttings-receiving and gathering portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted toA move in horizontal planes in close adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain, said conveying means also incluclirrgV a cooperating cuttings-elevator for re-I ceiving` the cuttings discharged from said scooplike receiving and gathering portion, and casing means at least partially enclosing said conveying means for confining the cuttings on said elevator during elevation of the cuttings, said casing .fmeans adapted for attachment to a coal cutting machine and having a bottom intake opening, said cuttings-receiving and -gathering portion arranged to extend through said intake opening into adjacency to the cutter chain and to operatev to move the cuttings horizontally away from the cutter chain through said intake opening'onto said elevator.

9. A cuttings-conveyer mechanism adapted for association with a coal cutting machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying an endless circulating cutter chain, comprising, in com-bination, conveying means adapted to move the cuttings from the neighborhood of the cutter chain and to elevate the cuttings above the level of the cutter chain to a suitable point of discharge, said conveying means having a cuttings-gathering portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to `move horizontally in close adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain at the trailing side of the cutter bar, said conveying means also including cuttings-elevating means associated with said gathering means for receiving the cuttings from the latter and for elevating the cuttings to said point of discharge, casing means at least partially enclosing said conveying and gathering means at the points where gathering and elevation take place, said casing means adapted for attachment to a coal cutting machine and having a bottom intake opening and a top discharge opening, said cuttings-gathering portion arranged to extend through said lintake opening into adjacency to the cutter chain and to operate to move the cuttings horizontally away from the cutter chain through said intake opening into the casing means, said elevating means receiving the cuttings from said gathering means and moving the cuttings upwardly through said casing means towards said top discharge opening. and conveying means for receiving the cuttings discharged from saidI top discharge opening and adapted to convey the cuttings laterally of the coal cutting machine to discharge at the side of the latter remote from the coal face which is being out.

l0=. In a cuttings-conveyer mechanism adapted for association with a coal cutting machine o'f portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to move in horizontal planes in closed adjacency to the return vrun of the cutter chain, and said gathering'conveyer acting to move the cuttings horizontally away from the cutter chain onto said elevating conveyer-and said elevating Y -conveyer receiving the cuttings from said gathering conveyer and acting vertically to'elevate the cuttings above the level of the cutter chain. y 1l. A cuttings-conveyer. mechanism adapted for.v association with a coal cutting machine oi .the kind having a cutter bar carrying an end- "less circulating cutter chain, comp-rising, in combination, conveying means adapted to move the cuttingsA from the neighborhood of the cutter .chain and to elevate the -cuttings above the level of the cutter chain toa suitable point of disposal, said conveying means having a cuttings-moving portion and a` cuttings-elevating portion; said V Vportions being disposed in a common transverse zone in close adjacency to the machine, said. cuttings-moving portion being so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to move horizontally in closeadjacency to the return run of the cutter chain at the trailing side of the cutter bar, and casing meansv adapted for attachment to the machine and at least partially enclosing said conveying means for confining the cuttings on said cuttings-elevating portion during elevation of the cuttings within the casing means, said casing means having a bottom intake opening and a top discharge opening, said cuttings-moving portion being arranged to extend through-v said intake openin-g into adjacency to the cutter chain and to operate to move the cuttings hori- V zontally away from the cutter chain through said 

